Despite the fact that all three of my kids are sick today...despite the fact that my property taxes next year will likely be as much as my current house payment...I am a bit jovial today.

The ESV Study Bible Web site just went live - and man they are doing this thing right.  Props to the moms and pops at Crossway and the team putting this together.  A few highlights.

• Pub date is October 2008
• The page layout looks great. Single column reading of the text...
  
• There will be an online edition launched along with it - you buy the book, you get web site access as well. 
• Full color illustrations/maps - see sample image here
• Eight formats including an affordable hardback at just over 32 bucks
• Greg Allison, my good friend and member of an advisory council for Jacob's Well wrote one of the articles.  See all contributors here.
  

A few interesting details on the English Standard Translation of the Scriptures.  First, Mark Driscoll gives a short description of the long...looooong awaited ESV Study Bible.  It sounds like they took the time to do it right...really right.  Looks to be a very important publication. Additionally, the translation is up to #4 in unit sales in data from February (see this pdf).  I think the addition of a full study Bible will only continue to help the adoption of the ESV. 

I came to the ESV dance back in 2003  - it is fun to see the translation continuing to gain traction. I was never able to switch from NIV to NASB...but the ESV was able to pry me from the translation I first read as a new Christian. I have enjoyed being an undercover ESV evangelist over the years.  I introduced it to our two teaching pastors at Fellowship in 2004 and then witnessed the conversion of our church from NASB to ESV in early 2006. 

My Bible Translation page has stuff on the ESV as well as the TNIV (me not like so much). 

The ESV translation of the Scriptures is getting a big boost this fall with the release of the ESV Study Bible.  To be honest, this has been in the works for quite some time and it seems Crossway went the extra mile to do this right.  Justin Taylor, former theology director for Desiring God was brought in to Crossway to manage this project (among others). 

Anyone interested in this work will be happy to know that a new web site (sort of) has gone up in advance of the Bible's publication.  The site only devours e-mail addresses of those who want to be up to date on the news surrounding the release.  I entered mine this evening.  Looks like details will be coming in mid April.

Here is the link - http://www.esvstudybible.org/ 

(HT - Taylor) 

There is some good news on the progress of the ESV translation of the Scriptures. You can read it on the ESV Blog.  Much of it centers around an interview with JI Packer.  Here is an exerpt:

Packer said the intent was to produce a “general purpose” Bible, suitable for preaching and exposition, reading in churches, memorization, lay Bible study, and personal Bible reading by people of all ages. A deliberate attempt was made to use simple words when possible, and to make the text “dance along,” or read easily.

Packer said the producers were very careful to not make extravagant claims or get into a competition with other translations. The ESV was not launched with the “trumpets and drums” of some other translations launched about the same time, he said.

Rather, the ESV was released quietly and soberly and allowed to “find its own level.” ESV’s natural audience is “serious evangelicals who want a translation they can trust to be transparent to the original.”

Packer said this appears to be what is behind the growing sales. Pastors are examining the translation, finding they can trust it and then recommending it to their congregations—and in some cases “retooling” their churches by using ESV as a pew Bible.

Well, we don't have a "pew Bible" or pews for that matter, but we did switch our pulpit and most of our church to the ESV.  This is one of the things I am very thankful for about my time and contribution to Fellowship Nashville.  

I try to blog from time to time on Bible translations...mainly the TNIV and the ESV newer works that have taken different angles in translations.  I am not a TNIV fan, but it is infinitely better the Good as New Retelling of Scripture coming out of the UK. 

Phil Johnson has a sampling of its drool over at his Pyromaniacs site.  Younger Christians out there, don't buy into this sort of crap. 

Crossway has is releasing a flood of new formats of the English Standard Version Bible.  Here is a short list from the ESV Blog.

The ESV Literary Study Bible 

The ESV Literary Study Bible approaches the Bible as literature and shows how the application of literary tools of analysis helps tremendously in reading and understanding the Bible. Readers are introduced to the literary features of each book of the Bible and to each section within each book.

While traditional Bibles are reference books, this is truly a reader’s Bible. The format (single-column, black-letter, 8.5-point text, no section headings) and commentary make it ideal for private devotional reading, for preachers and Bible teachers, and for use in group Bible studies.

Download a 16-page brochure (1.3MB PDF) with sample pages from The Literary Study Bible. $49.99, available in Fall 2007.

Large-Print Pew and Worship Bibles 

The ESV Large-Print Pew and Worship Bible will be available in three colors (red, blue, and black to match the current Pew and Worship Bibles) in summer 2007.

Two New Wide Margin Reference Bibles 

The ESV Wide Margin Reference Bible will be available in Black TruTone and Portfolio Design TruTone (both for $54.99) covers in late summer 2007.

My very favorite: Two New ESV Journaling Bibles

The ESV Journaling Bible will be available in natural leather ($75.00) and plum ($34.99) covers in late summer 2007.

The ESV Journaling Bible allows readers to interact with the Scriptures as they read and study them. Its 2-inch ruled margins allow plenty of room for reflections, prayers, praises, and the like. The rules in these new Bibles have slightly more space between them than the ones in the original Journaling Bibles.

My review of the ESV Journaling Bible is here.

Cowhide Leather Thinline Bible 

The ESV Thinline Bible will be available with a stylish, high-quality cowhide leather cover. The flap for closing and strap for tying make the new cover of this popular Bible even more distinctive.

Coming late summer 2007, this Bible sells for $69.99.

Finally, the folks at Crossway have an ESV Twitter out for those of you who are Twittering... 

If you love the ESV and computer geeky stuff then you have to check this out.  It is a social map of New Testament Relationships using a new data visualization tool from IBM. Here is a direct link for you to play with it - you'll need to have a Java Virtual Machine installed to use it (most do). 

This is a static picture of it...the link above takes you to the site where you can pull things around, zoom, etc.

 

(HT - Houston Slatton) 

For those interested, there is now a new version of the ESV Journaling Bible out.  It looks like the ladies and the fellas could both enjoy the look of this one. Before all you had to choose from was black - the tuscan version gives another choice to the read. Love that little wide margin, moleskin looking ESV text Bible.  For those interested, just keep in mind that the print is a bit small.

I asked my wife to read my recent blog entry on BibleZines.  She proved my point big time.  The first thing she said was: "What's the big deal, if it is just a Christian magazine" - My response.  Kasey, they are not magazines, they are Bibles.  Her face sunk - "you are kidding..."

Nope.  She actually thought these Bibles were "Christian" youth rags; seems to be exactly what the designers of these had in mind.  The bizarre messages about "Sexcess" aside, the fact that these Bibles were so camouflaged that my wife thought they were Christian knock offs of pop cultural magazines sort of proves my point. 

To me these deals are over a line.  Am I for nice Bible covers, colors, even new color printing technology for the inside of Bibles...absolutely.  I don't want to carry around scrolls or parchment.  But this seems like a capitulation to a message and method which does not arise from the Biblical Narrative.  I wrote this in the comments of the previous post and wanted to pull it out here as I close:

To me these seem a bit different than a Bible with notes. What I see on the covers of these "Bibles" is a capitulation to the values, message, and image of Americanism.

Look for a second at the "pink one"

• 2 min makeovers to transform your life? How is this from the biblical narrative? Now, I don't know what these make-overs are, but just the way that it is spewed on the cover of this "Bible" is extremely problematic.

• Now, look at the green one. Why did they pick a beautiful model, with perfect high cheek bones to represent young women. It is following "the image" that women's magazines use. Complete with a "what guys are really thinking" headline. Why didn't they use a homely looking girl who is awkward looking? This is a bit sickening to me to be honest and I am not a prude when it comes to pop culture.

I believe in using the forms of culture to communicate a biblical message - I do not think it wise to communicate non-biblical messages in pop cultural forms.

Again, I am not against Bibles with notes, even trendy designs, colors etc. and I share the desire to get people into the Scriptures. I guess I see this as using forms which are designed to mimic messages which I find very far from the biblical narrative and worldview. Is it not grotesque to compare 1 John 1:9 to getting white deodorant streaks out of a shirt? How has this not trivialized in some way the sacrifice of the gospel.

 

Ok, one of my friends just sent me a link to an article in the New Yorker Magazine entitled "The Good Book Business: Why Publishers Love the Bible" - You might guess that the answer to that question is not because of the truth of Scripture...

All the glitz, cash, and marketing aside...this section of the article almost caused me to physically vomit: 

The popularization of the Bible entered a new phase in 2003, when Thomas Nelson created the BibleZine. Wayne Hastings described a meeting in which a young editor, who had conducted numerous focus groups and online surveys, presented the idea. “She brought in a variety of teen-girl magazines and threw them out on the table,” he recalled. “And then she threw a black bonded-leather Bible on the table and said, ‘Which would you rather read if you were sixteen years old?’ ” The result was “Revolve,” a New Testament that looked indistinguishable from a glossy girls’ magazine. The 2007 edition features cover lines like “Guys Speak Their Minds” and “Do U Rush to Crush?” Inside, the Gospels are surrounded by quizzes, photos of beaming teen-agers, and sidebars offering Bible-themed beauty secrets:

Have you ever had a white stain appear underneath the arms of your favorite dark blouse? Don’t freak out. You can quickly give deodorant spots the boot. Just grab a spare toothbrush, dampen with a little water and liquid soap, and gently scrub until the stain fades away. As you wash away the stain, praise God for cleansing us from all the wrong things we have done. (1 John 1:9)

But Reid, this sort of thing "reaches people" - reaches them with what?  Resolved today to pray that my daughters would reach for the black bonded leather Bible over the cheap, shallow, teen magazines which the BibleZine felt led to emulate. 

My favorite cover was this one. 

 

Looks kind of like Glamour or Redbook, but without the freaky stuff.  But it does advertise to tell women "What Guys Are Really Thinking" I am not against Bibles being "designed, using modern type set, even a tasteful design on a cover etc." but this seems to me to be ridiculous, almost laughable.

It seems to take the holiest of things and trivialize them.  To take 1 John 1:9, which speaks of the gospel of Jesus, the Son of God crushed for sinners, so that God would be faithful and just to forgive our sins...and put it along side a tip of getting the white deodorant stuff off of your blouse...

OK, I think I really have to go vomit now.  And men, don't think you have been forgotten...oh, no.

For those gadget loving, maintenance men, you can get Align: 

 

And for all you little radical dudes downstream, get Refueled:

 

Where else are you going to learn how to attract godly girls. Awwww Yeah!

Is this cultural contextualization or capitulation?  In my mind it is the latter.  But hey, shouldn't we give em a high five for the old college try!?

 

JI Packer made a striking statement:

I find myself suspecting very strongly that my work on the translation of the ESV Bible was the most important thing that I have done for the Kingdom, and that the product of our labors is perhaps the biggest milestone in Bible translation in the past fifty years or more.

The Crossway has an update on the ESV on its web site. Five Years, 3 million Bibles, online excellence, international traction, adoption by churches and ministries, etc.

I certainly am thankful for this translation of the Bible; it has been a pleasant grace to my life for several years and was the only text which was able to pull me out of the NIV of my conversion.  If you have not purchased one - I recommend the ESV Journaling Bible - mainly because it is just so cool. 

Going to read mine now. 

 

 

Go buy a bunch of these and give em away..

Spread the Word 

Here is a weird English grammar factoid that a friend of mine and I just ran across.  Last Tuesday in meeting at the church, one our staff was leading a devotion in Hebrews 13:2 and said, hey there is a typo in the ESV. It reads:

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 

I thought, look er there – a typo.  So...I had been in recent conversation with Crossway about the little review I wrote for the ESV journaling bible that they were putting up on the ESV blog – so I took the chance to bring up Hebrews 13:2 with them to maybe correct the old ESV.
 
They told me that the “unawares” dates back to the RSV which follows the KJV – I just thought – well that is stupid reason to have!  Boy, was I wrong.  In looking at the sentence construction it turns out that the word unaware would need to be an adverb which modifies the way “some” have entertained angels.  It should be something like “unawarely” – but of course this is no word.   So, my friend and I looked up “unawares” in old Websters and wouldn’t you know.  There is a word that means “unawarely” – yep, you guessed it – unawares.

Main Entry: un·awares
Pronunciation: -'werz
Function: adverb
Etymology: un- + aware + -s, adverb suffix, from Middle English, from -s, genitivesingular ending of nouns -- more at -S
1 : without design, attention, preparation, or premeditation
2 : without warning : SUDDENLY, UNEXPECTEDLY

You can see the whole entry here.

So, if you are preaching Hebrews 13 in the English Standard Version – know that the ESV actually gets it right here and it isn’t a typo – who knew, I was piping off to Crossway confidently but unawares.

The ESV has proven to be very faithful and accurate again - and using proper English as well.  And  ain't it cool to use proper English?

Another interesting ESV Bible coming out this fall.

Here is the Link ESV God’s Story Editions Coming Summer and Fall 2006

Logos Bible Software just went to version 3.0.  I have been using Logos since the early-mid 90s and this product keeps getting better and better.  In my mind this is such an aid to study that it is worth every dollar of the investment. 

All the 411 on new features etc. is availabe here: http://www.logos.com/logos3 For all the ESV fans out there, the new Word Study tool is linked to the new ESV-Greek/Hebrew interlinear.

Very sweet.  Mac users, let not your hearts be troubled, there is a version in the works

Most of my friends know me to be a very bold and compassionate ESV evangelist.  In the halls where I live, work, and play I have been known to respond to the question "What translation of the Bible is that you are using?" with answers such as "The best English translation available, what else..."  Now that I have been evangelizing for the ESV for some years, not pushy or preachy of course, I now have seen someone doing excellent ESV Apologetics. 

Evangelism and Apologetics should ever be married in one effort, so it is great to see my brothers doing such a wonderful job defending and offering great insight into the translation of the ESV.

Anyway, I love the NASB and came to faith with the NIV...but would recommend stearing a bit clear from the TNIV.

For those interested, Daniel Wallace provides a great guide to the history of Bible translations over at Bible.org.  Just be aware, Wallace is an evangelist as well...for something known (well, mostly unknown) as the NET Bible.  No wonder, he is a freaky smart Greek scholar who is one of its translators.

Now, if you are looking for a great Bible translation that is accurate, readable, great to memorize, beautiful (O for the beauty of the Psalms), and usable at all ages....well, don't ask me for any other recommendation but the ESV.

Some articles written about the Today's New International Version (TNIV)

Link - 10-2.pdf (application/pdf Object)

...

--------

Crossway Books has just published a really unique Children's Bible. It has illustrations and supplemental materials which teaches some theology to kids. I preordered this months ago for my 4 year old (yes, I know - that seems a bit ambitious - but we have fun talking about all this stuff) and can't wait for it to come. Many exciting lessons ahead for bed time with Daddy!

Link - ESV Bible Blog

World Mag's blog has an interesting entry about the "Today's New International Version's" removal of the word "Father" from passages in the Bible.

See "Parents" instead of "Fathers" - I take it that the translators are trying to not discriminate against "mothers" - but why translate the word "Father" to "parents" - both Hebrew and Greek have the word "Father" and "Parents". Do the translators (who supposedly hold to the original texts being the words of God) not realize that "Fathers" may have a certain role with their children?

This boggles the mind...maybe, I am missing something

--------

A quick read of the top books read by believers these days shows how desperate the situation is to bring depth of thought back to Christ's church...man, we are a fluff reading bunch. ECPA: Bestsellers List

Also, note - the TNIV is #14 in the Bible list, despite what is probably the most aggressive, well funded, marketing campaign in history. As I have said...Just say No.

--------

Been enjoying Justin Taylor's blog - He has a few good links about Biblical translation philosophies... Very helpful - Between Two Worlds: Bible Translations --------

As I continue reading stuff on the TNIV I am continually surprised at the views I am running across...especially as one interested in philosophy of language. It is interesting that the TNIV promotional material seems to be saying that "culture" is always some neutral form out there - that whatever culture is doing with language etc. must be taken as "the way things are" - It seems to neglect that culture may change its language and descriptions on things to avoid certain realities it no longer feels worthy. This is represented in the TNIV FAQ on the web:

The TNIV is the most accurate translation for 18- to 34-year-olds because it is written in today’s language. As Dr. Ronald Youngblood, longtime CBT member, says, “English is always changing. As a result, we must continue the work of translation to guarantee that the Bible is accurately communicated in the language of the day.” So how do you understand the language of the day? How does someone twenty years younger understand language?

This is very interesting (especially as someone who grew up without church, without reading the Bible, and is still just 32 years old). It seems from such statements that we would accept the manner of speach of the 18 year old and then change the words of God (which is what we mean by plenary, verbal inspiration) to match the persons vocabulary. So what would keep us (really, I mean this) from changing God from "Heavenly Father" to "Heavenly Parent" if the "youner generation" no longer accepts the conception of God as Father? Assertions that "we will never do that" seem very hollow as many church traditions are already doing "God our Father/Mother" and "Worshipping the Goddess" etc. NOW, in our generation. Now I want to have a Bible in today's idiom, but issues that effect the very view of "gender" to reflect a "culture" that is deeply rejecting certain Biblical concepts of gender is quite a different animal. A hermeunitic control is given to the interpreters to change words to reflect todays understanding of gender...where male/female distinction in roles or design by God are muted or outright changed in the words of God. The influence of postmodern philosphies of language is on the table of course:

The English language keeps on changing. In 2003 when Merriam-Webster updated its collegiate dictionary, lexicographers made more than 100,000 changes and added more than 10,000 new words and phrases that did not appear in 1993. Even school and college textbooks have changed over the years, as “men” rarely refers to both men and women today. Now consider the fact that the NIV was first published more than 30 years ago.

This is quite interesting - I guess we should have new English Bibles in even shorter life cycles in the coming years - "new for todays 20 year old" and whatever cultural beliefs they express with their languages - be it nature worship, transgenderism, or whatever else comes in the name of "culture"

Now to Zondervan's research on my generation:

Clearly, the TNIV is not the translation for everyone; no Bible translation is. But TNIV critics are not in the 18- to 34-year-old audience that the TNIV speaks to.

Well, call me Exhibit A - again, unchurched, unBibled, 32 and a critic...they continue

But our primary focus is on the fact that there is an overwhelming need to reach 18- to 34-year-olds with the Bible. According to research, 40% of children who grow up in church no longer attend church as adults. It is tough to argue with an accurate translation that is overwhelmingly supported by a group of people who desperately need to be re-engaged, or engaged for the first time, with the Bible.

Why on earth would we think that those who "no longer going to church" should be some sort infallible guide to the translation of God's Word - is this not just marketing schmack. Do not women and men who are my age have minds to understand that "aner" means "man" and "anthropos" means "people". I share a deep passion to reach those of my generation, to connect with them, to love them, for they are me. But I also want to reach them with the timeless truth (yes, there is such a thing) of God's Word.

I think in our day of Sola Cultura we need to look hard at understanding things that are transcultural in nature - in the way things are. I offer just a few (yes, from the noumenal realm - they way things ARE - Kantianism not withstanding):

• The created nature of human beings - in the image of God - we share a common humanity - this exists across cultures
• The created nature of human beings - as male and female - in the created order itself, in ourselves - this exists across cultures
• The world itself that God created and used to speak to us - I'll name here only a few - 1) the nature of man (he took it upon himself to speak to us through the incarnation) 2) the faculty of language and reason - which he used in the incarnation and which all humans possess 3) ALL THINGS - rocks, trees, seeds that grow, space, the stars, the vastness of the universe, rivers, oceans, rain, ants, birth processes, the sky, mud and mire - we live in this same world - and God indeed uses it to speak to us.
• The Law of God - Written on the Hearts - The moral law, as reall as physics, but bearing not upon physical bodies, but upon the souls of women and men.
• The Word of God - Using language, using words, using all the things above as referents to speak to us in a way that can be understood.

The cultural currents rage - the flowers fade, and the grass withers - but the WORD of the Lord stands forever...

Convinced that I will further my progress in Greek and Hebrew and stand on the walls for my generation - for the Word that will change them and properly order our lives. What we need is the word from God - with all its "Father" language included. For this is indeed our God - the very Creator God - Father, Son, Holy Spirit - and these names are not ancient culture - but the represntative monikers given to us - God's self revelation of the one who is I AM.

Out...

--------

Zondervan, the Committee on Bible Translation and the International Bible Society are ramping up a launch of a revision of the New Internationl Version of the Bible (TNIV). This translation which is causing quite a stir in the church is called “gender accurate” by its proponents and “gender neutral” by opponents. The Presbyterian Church in America and the Southern Baptist Convention have already publically rejected this translation. A few articles:

• Changing God's Words
• TNIV Resource Center – Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
• Discussion and Resources at the WorldMag TNIV Blog

I have followed this debate for over seven years and care more deeply about this today than ever. The reason? I have two precious little girls who I love ever so much and pray that they can grow up with a church that honors God’s Words over politically correct revisionism and marvels at the beauty and wisdom that “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” The Holy Bible : English Standard Version., Ge 1:27. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001.

I commend the English Standard Version to any reader searching for a translation that can be used in devotional reading, study, preaching, throughout the spectrum of age groups. I pray this translation finds wide traction in the coming decades – to the glory of God.

Out.

--------